Fall Adventure to Points North (First Post)

Sept. 10 we took off for points north. Our plan is to be on the road for a month travelling up to Vancouver Island, Canada and then the San Juan Islands in Washington. There are a few fires going now and we will be watching the road closures and air quality. As we left there was a fire closing the road near Weed.

Lake Shasta (above) was really low. I think lower than last year. Since we got home they announced that they found a sunken boat from WWII era.

Our first camp was at Sims Flat (NFS)--This is our "go to" choice when we head north on 5. Timing is right, nice campground and it is not very busy (haven't been during bust season though).

Watson and I took a walk to explore. The CCC had a camp here and there are several remaining sites.

Blackberries were ripe! Yum! We had hot cereal with fresh berries for breakfast! Yum! Yum! Yum!

After leaving Sims Flat we were able to continue on the route we had planned. Weed, proper was in good shape. We saw signs for the "Local Assistance Center" though (there were evacuations). When we left town, we did see how close the fire had come to town and it was right there!

After leaving Weed we stopped at the Memorial Sculpture Garden for All Veterans. It was very moving.

Honoring the Medics

Honoring the POW's. Took me back to see the POW/MIA bracelets.

This one was called "Homecoming"

Our next stop was the Tulelake Internment Camp. This was as close as we could get-it is only open for guided tours on the weekends. Similar to Manzanar, this is a very stark, harsh landscape. It can be beautiful in its own way but hard living here.

We camped at Lava Beds National Monument. We had some visitors across from our campsite.

The deer came by a few times while we were there.

The landscape at Lava Beds is very other worldly. Vast fields of almost black lava. Lots of lava tubes to be explored. Only one of the caves has lighting so they recommend bringing multiple flashlights (they said 3). The tubes are fairly short. We both explored the Mushpot tube (with lighting) and each went in one other. Having Watson with us meant that we were going in alone so we took it easy and didn't take risks.

Watson was disappointed to see that pesky "no dogs" sign. He wouldn't have gone down the ladder anyway.

There are always interesting things to see while we are waiting. The Mushpot cave was surrounding by a nature trail with a wide variety of native plants.

Down the steep stairs.......(and those metal railings get really, really cold)

Watch your head. Some of the clearances are pretty low.

Vast areas of lava. There had been a fire a few years ago so many of the trees were burnt, giving an even more desolate feel to the area.

There have been people living here for a long time. Petroglyphs give evidence of many years.

Moving on to Oregon

We decided to move on to Oregon a day early. Found Jackson F. Kimball State Park, on the way to Crater Lake. Small, out of the way, pretty state park. We pretty much had the park to ourselves. (one other car, arrived late and left early). Really beautiful river next to it. It was cool enough to get out the wool hats but we were warm and toasty in the van at night.

The traditional "morning coffee" portrait.